9.1. Overview

9.1. Overview

A netlist is a file which describes electrical connections between components. In the netlist file you can find:

• The list of the components
• The list of connections between components, called equi-potential nets.

Different netlist formats exist. Sometimes the components list and the equi-potential list are two separate files. This netlist is fundamental in the use of schematic capture software, because the netlist is the link with other electronic CAD software, like:

• PCB software.
• Schematic and PCB Simulators.
• CPLD (and other programmable IC’s) compilers.

Eeschema supports several netlist formats.

• PCBNEW format (printed circuits).
• ORCAD PCB2 format (printed circuits).
• CADSTAR format (printed circuits).
• Spice format, for various simulators (the Spice format is also used by other simulators).